GM Mike Rizzo talks on the phone before today’s game against the Braves.

VIERA, Fla. — The Nationals made another round of cuts following today’s 11-2 win over the Braves, sending left-hander Fernando Abad and catcher Carlos Maldonado to minor-league camp.

Manager Davey Johnson said he’ll send two more players down after tomorrow’s Grapefruit League finale: outfielder Micah Owings and infidler Carlos Rivero (who has already been outrighted to Class AAA Syracuse but has remained in big-league camp).

That will leave only 26 active players on the roster when camp breaks tomorrow evening and the team flies north to Washington. And on that flight will be J.C. Romero, who still has a chance to crack the Opening Day bullpen over Henry Rodriguez.

Johnson approached Romero in the clubhouse after today’s game and clued the veteran left-hander in on his travel plans without revealing the ultimate answer: where he’ll be come Opening Day.Read more

222 if he could groove one he would but HROD is about the worst pitcher I have ever seen. He looks scared and his coping mechanism is to look board. He is NOT a MLB pitcher now or ever. The only reason he is here is Rizzo is too stubborn to admit he got taken by Billy Bean.

While we wait for tomorrow's game…Mark evidently gets regular tweets from people asking if he's related to (or actually IS) the guy who invented Facebook. He's had a couple of snappy answers:"Yes, people with different last names are usually related.""Yes, I just cover the Nats on the side for fun."How about we help him out? Give him a database of smartass answers he can use (but not so smartass he'll get in trouble with CSN)?I'll start:"Yes, when the IPO tanked, I found out I needed a second job.""No, that's my other brother Mark."Can we put them on NIDO?

222–I wouldn't want to be Henry walking in from the bullpen on Friday. Yikes. It's the old joke but I really wouldn't want to be the Yankee in the batter's box this particular evening. And I hope Henry goes to the DL and miraculously turns his head around before returning (but not like in the Exorcist b/c then he'd be really scary).

AS much as I would have liked to see Werth elsewhere, I must say the Werthless one is making me a believer….finally. Yea, I've been noticing how he is so able to go down after a pitch..IN THE CLUTCH!. Keep it up. Nothing I'd like better than to see him have a great season. Mostly, keep those strikeouts down. Zimmerman only struck out once in four at bats, and look what he did when he hit the ball..THREE TIMES!!! And Espi, putting the bat on the ball. I'm sleeping better.

Davey wants a lefty in the back end of the bullpen he can trust. Its why they acquired Romero since Fernando Abad and Bill Bray didn't meet the requirement.Rizzo doesn't want to lose HRod at least not withoutgetting anything back for him … noting that just today the Angels acquired former Nat rule 5 pick Elvin Ramirez for cash considerations from the Mets. There will definitely be interest in HRod out there. I knew Davey would find a way to get another lefty. He can be pretty predictable if you listen to what he says.

AS much as I would have liked to see Werth elsewhere, I must say the Werthless one is making me a believer….finallyI was thinking along those line until Davey put him at leadoff in front of Harper. Werth in front of Harper helps both players gi-normously. That was abundantly clear at the end of last season. And why Mr. Span had better produce right up front because I strongly suspect Davey might prefer the Magnolia Muscle in the lineup to a banjo bat, left-handed or not.

Peric is most of the way there. Romero going north (when he doesn't have to) means they want him in the dugout on Monday. Rodriguez will be either traded (I hope) or DLed. Romero isn't coming just to pad his frequent flyer account.

Just curiously, where are all the "Micah Owings is making the team" people?Over Tyler Moore? They must be dreaming. Davey loves Moore If not he would have already been optioned to Syracuse to work on fielding in the outfield. Its reaching but it'll be interesting to see who has more extra bases and homers at the end of the season: Moore or Morse. If Moore wins that Rizzo (and Davey) look like cagey guys.

Billy Beane: "He gets on base a lot. Do I care if it's a walk or a hit? Pete?"Peter Brand: "You do not."Billy Beane: "I do not."(Denard Span's on base percentage this spring is .348. — despite a .211 batting average. When he finds his stroke his OBA will only rise. This man will score a ton of runs.)

(Denard Span's on base percentage this spring is .348. — despite a .211 batting average. When he finds his stroke his OBA will only rise. This man will score a ton of runs.)Do I want a guy in the line up who just might hit 40 home runs, and 40 doubles given 500 at bats? Or do I want a replaceable player with a banjo bat who might achieve a high OBP? Hmmm, given how much Davey wanted LaRoche backI can tell you what he would pick.

"NatsJack in Florida said… Just curiously, where are all the "Micah Owings is making the team" people?"Saying that it's possible Micah Owings will make the team is different than saying Micah Owings is making the team. Just like saying you could possibly be a dick is different than saying you are a dick. Learn about semantics, dude.

Boy am I glad I decided to check out this discussion. Yuck.Anyway, back to the topic at hand, I doubt there's a GM in baseball who would give anything to Rizzo for H-Rod at this point. Could his value be any lower than it is today? There are several who will be happy to have him for free (well, for taking over his salary), but that's about it. That's where he's headed unless Rizzo wants to DL him to see if after some more rehab he can figure things out.

I'll drink to that, Sonny. Twice!swami, I actually don't want to hurl. I know it's crazy, but you gotta lose some games, right? Otherwise, it's just not fair to the other teams or the record books. Besides, it builds character.I do think I might choose to go get a dog, though.